May 20/02 5:53 am - Giro Stage: 8

Posted by Editoress on 05/20/02

Giro d'Italia Stage 8

Today's stage of the Giro d'Italia was the longest of this edition, covering 237 kms between Capannori and Orvieto. The stage winner, Aitor Gonzalez (Kelme Costa Blanca) took off in the last kilometer and was able to stay away until the finish line, where he was followed 4 seconds behind by Italians Francesco Casagrande and Gilberto Simoni, while German Jens Heppner (Telekom) held on to the leader's pink jersey. Gonzalez's teammate Santiago Pérez was hospitalized due to injuries suffered in a crash where he hit his head after only 10 kms of racing.